We call upon the federal government to work with provincial, territorial, and municipal governments, churches, Aboriginal communities, former residential school students, and current landowners to develop and implement strategies and procedures for the ongoing identification, documentation, maintenance, commemoration, and protection of residential school cemeteries or other sites at which residential school children were buried. This is to include the provision of appropriate memorial ceremonies and commemorative markers to honour the deceased children.
Why “In Progress?”
July 20, 2022: The Govt. of Canada and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation announce the new National Advisory Committee on Residential Schools Missing Children and Unmarked Burials
On August 11, 2021, the federal government committed $321M in new funding for Indigenous communities and appointing a special interlocutor to propose law and policy changes to better responds to the findings of unmarked graves at former residential school sites:
- $83M added to the existing $27M program to fund searches of burial sites and commemorate the children who died at residential schools
- $107M for programs to support healing from intergenerational trauma
- $100M over two years to help Indigenous communities manage residential school buildings. To access this support, as well as support for the location, commemoration and memorialization of remains, communities can apply through the Residential Schools Missing Children – Community Support Funding Program.
- $9.6 million over three years in addition to the $13.4 million over five years already announced in Budget 2021 to ensure that the tragic history and ongoing legacy of residential schools is never forgotten.
- The funds will support initiatives that commemorate the history and ongoing legacy of residential schools, including events and activities marking the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation which will be observed for the first time this year on September 30, 2021
Mar. 19, 2022: CBC – Raymond Frogner, head of archives for the NCTR, will be visiting the Rome archives of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate to review and digitize residential school-related records. He said the NCTR is still negotiating with the Oblates to access the personnel files of priests and residential school staff. He said the Oblates are seeking restrictions around records from those members who are still alive. In a previous update on June 6, 2021 (Toronto Star), the Oblates who operated 48 schools in Canada said the work is not complete because of complications with provincial and national privacy laws.
The federal government released $27M in unused funding from a $33.8M budget allocations for Calls to Action # 72 and 73 in Budget 2019 to assist communities in the search for additional graves.
Current Status
In Progress
Call to Action
last updated
March 22, 2024
Latest Updates
Commitments to Residential Schools
Commission releases interim report into unmarked graves at residential schools
The interim report asks for funding for searches at residential school to be continued until past 2025. Canada announced millions of dollars to assist the……
March 22, 2024
Commitments to Residential Schools
Survivors renew calls for demolition of former residential schools in N.W.T.
https://player.vimeo.com/video/874234589?badge=0&autopause=0&quality_selector=1&progress_bar=1&player_id=0&app_id=58479 Connie Benwell never met her uncle Marvin. That’s because he never returned home from residential school. “My grandparents died without ever knowing what happened……
October 13, 2023
Discoveries of unmarked graves
B.C. helps Williams Lake First Nation buy land at former residential school site
A cemetery and an abandoned building are seen on the former grounds of St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School, in Williams Lake, B.C., on Wednesday, March……
September 5, 2023
Commitments to Residential Schools
Ontario Launching New Indian Residential School Community Engagement Fund
New fund supporting ongoing burial investigations and mental health supports NationTalk: TORONTO – The Ontario government is continuing to take action to support Indigenous communities……
July 31, 2023
Federal Government Disbursements
Ground search begins at former Chooutla school site in Yukon
As many as 42 students may have died at the former school site https://player.vimeo.com/video/835975102?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479 APTN News: A ground search for potential graves has begun at……
June 13, 2023
Discoveries of unmarked graves
Manitoba First Nation and Colombian researchers discuss ‘forensics of care’ in their work on unmarked graves
Sioux Valley Dakota Nation exchanges knowledge with committee for Colombian massacre victims WARNING: This story contains distressing details. Sioux Valley Dakota Nation members and delegates……
June 4, 2023
Federal Government Disbursements
Details of upcoming work to find graves at residential school site presented in Carcross, Yukon
Ground-penetrating radar work to be done at Chooutla school site starting next month WARNING: This story contains distressing details. The site of the former Chooutla……
May 5, 2023
Federal Government Disbursements
Search for graves at Yukon residential school site planned for this summer
‘We will finally get some answers to questions that we’ve had in our families,’ says chair of working group WARNING: This story contains details some……
March 25, 2023
Commitments to Residential Schools
International Commission on Missing Persons to undertake outreach and engagement sessions with Indigenous communities on unmarked burial sites
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada: Taking care: We recognize this news release may contain information that is difficult for many and that our efforts……
February 17, 2023
Commitments to Residential Schools
Ottawa spending $2-million for international commission to offer advice on unmarked graves
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Marc Miller stands during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Dec. 5, 2022. SEAN……
February 7, 2023